I cannot provide an answer.
The only choice before me was to delve into the Four Rules True Method.
The stripping of my shadowy life has actually caused a significant loss in my strength, making it difficult to adapt to any unforeseen events.
Then, as I watched the light of the small moon outside the car, I read quietly.
The first two chapters of the Four Rules True Method explain and introduce many things, including what Dao is, and where people go after death.
I once believed that crossing over to the spirit realm from the City God Temple was the way to the infernal court of Yama, and the cycle of rebirth.
However, in fact, Dao doesn't think so. Dao believes that ghosts have the Six Palaces of Heaven and Earth, and after a person dies, they only go to one of the palaces.
In practice, is that palace compatible with our current understanding of the underworld?
I spent a day and a night reading the introductory sections before getting to the main content of the Four Rules True Method.
It was all about talismans! And each one was far more profound than the runes in the nine schools of arts I had ever learned!
The use of Dao talismans is relatively simple. Either draw them on paper, or draw them in the air. The former requires less skill, while the latter requires more.
I flipped through a few more pages and saw one that was different.
This page recorded various techniques that formed a set of hand seals and a mantra.
The content was: "Thunder Lord Lightning Mother, quickly descend your divine power. Follow me to extinguish the ghosts. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
My heart accelerated greatly. This technique, used by Sun Zhuo against Ao, appeared to be just that.
However, in Mingjing Zhenren's hands, it was completely different.
At that time, the ghostly figure with eyes on its head was directly incapacitated by this technique of Mingjing Zhenren, without even a chance to react.
To be honest, I want to learn this set of hand seals, but it's rather towards the back of the book.
The old Qin master taught me that for anything, one should proceed step by step, and never be too eager to show off.
I returned to the talisman pages at the beginning and started learning from the simplest one.
Since there were no conditions in the car, I copied and sketched in mid-air, in the form of illusions.
Dao techniques and those of the nine schools are truly different.
The most apparent difference is that it is clean and dignified.
The nine schools often deal with corpses and ghosts, but Dao techniques, especially in terms of drawing talismans, are relatively cleaner.
It's just that Dao techniques are more difficult.
The nine schools can be learned in a step-by-step manner, but the details of Dao techniques' talismans are numerous.
I could clearly feel that if it were before, I would think that looking at this kind of talisman was like reading sky writing.
Now, I can dissect and understand the essence of this talisman.
After half a day, I felt like I had grasped the essentials of the first talisman. If I had paper and ink, I could really give it a try.
The car just stopped, and I saw the familiar street outside and the door of the Jia family.
Just as we got out of the car, two security guards came out with joy on their faces. One ran inside to report the news, while the other bowed respectfully to us.
Mingmei's face was full of smiles.
But the security guard, upon seeing Yu Xiuxiu and noticing that she was pulling me, his face became particularly stiff.
However, Mingmei had no reaction and led us inside. When we arrived at the main hall, Jia Qiong was about to leave.
"Dad, we're all in now," Mingmei called out.
Jia Qiong's face was full of smiles, but then it turned stiff and uncomfortable.
His gaze fell on Yu Xiuxiu, and Jia Qiong seemed like he wanted to say something but dared not. Sweat beads formed on his forehead.
"Xiuxiu, who is this?" Finally, Jia Qiong asked out.
"Oh, this is Xiuxiu, the younger sister of Shenshen," Mingmei said with an unchanged expression and even a smile on her face, giving Yu Xiuxiu her identity.
"Little sister? Ah, ha… haha… I haven't heard that Shenshen has a younger sister. But she does seem quite clever and perceptive," Jia Qiong's embarrassment eased, and his expression relaxed.
"Dad, Xiuxiu has been feeling unwell, so she's been following us," Mingmei explained softly, pointing to her head.
Jia Qiong: ...
He abruptly changed the subject, not mentioning Yu Xiuxiu at all, saying that he would go fetch the old man and have everyone sit together to enjoy a cup of tea with him.
Mingmei politely declined, saying that they had been driving for nearly two days and suggested going to rest first. They could discuss any matters in the evening.
Jia Qiong did not insist on keeping us.
Mingmei led me to the room where I used to stay, and then I let Yu Xiuxiu follow her.
Traveling took more than one day and one night, plus another half a day. I didn't get any rest as I hadn't closed my eyes.
During the night at the rest stop, Mingmei fell asleep, but I continued reading the Four Rules True Method.
I knew in my heart that no matter how excited I was, I still needed to sleep. After lying in bed and resting with my eyes closed for about two hours, I naturally woke up.
There was red sand on my body, but I didn't have ink and paper to draw talismans, so I could only sit by the window table and continue reading the Four Rules True Method.
I kept reading until dusk, when the sun set, and Mingmei knocked on my door.
Mingmei's complexion had recovered well, but Yu Xiuxiu remained unchanged, following behind Mingmei.
She told me that her father had prepared a grand welcome dinner, and the whole family was waiting there with quite a bit of wine and drinks.
It was obvious that Mingmei was a bit troubled.
I smiled and said that it was alright not to drink, as everything could be discussed and negotiated.
Mingmei's face then improved slightly.
I then reminded her to get some things for me: an inkstone, ink, and yellow paper for drawing talismans.
Mingmei's eyes lit up again, muttering, "Can you draw talismans now?"
I paused for a moment and explained that I would try first.
Mingmei then appeared even more joyful.
Exiting the room, we went to the hall where there was a feast set out. The dining table was overflowing with an array of dishes, and most of Jia's immediate family were seated. But as soon as I looked, I noticed that one person was missing.
Jia Qiyi.
But it was hard for me to say it.
Many of their gazes were on me.
Someone offered me a drink, but I politely declined.
Jia Qiong stood up and coughed, "Xianshen, you drank the last time we met. This time, you can't refuse. If your uncle brought you a drink, you should at least show some courtesy."
He was about to come towards me.
Mingmei then stood up and stopped Jia Qiong, slightly reproachfully saying, "Dad, Xianshen doesn't drink much anyway. Drunkenness can lead to mistakes. Besides, we're coming back to stay, so there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. For now, Xianshen needs to focus entirely on studying talismans. He barely slept when I went to see him earlier."
" Talismans?" Jia Qiong's eyes narrowed immediately, and he asked in a low voice, "The talismans of the lower nine schools?"
"Not." Mingmei answered softly.
At that moment, the entire hall fell into silence.
Suddenly, the room fell silent. Ming Chang's chopsticks clicked against the edge of the bowl, and she said, "Jia Qiong, at your age, why haven't you given up drinking? You're always greedy for wine! Don't disturb Xianshen!"
The dining process was much quieter than the last time.
During the meal, Mingmei mentioned the Zhongshan White Jelly and asked for some ink, brushes, paper, and inkstones.
Ming Chang immediately agreed, but said that it would be delivered to my room the next day.
I had a vague sense that something was off.
The people at the table, all of Jia's family, were all glancing towards Ming Chang without really looking. Of course, the movement was very small and subtle. They only looked at her for a moment before turning their gaze away.
